RBC HERITAGE

April 19, 2024

Mackenzie Hughes

Harbour Town Golf Links

Quick Quotes

Q. MacKenzie, second consecutive 66, excellent playing. If we can get some comments on another good day.

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, it was a nice day. I really didn't have a ton going there up until 13. I made a nice birdie on 13, got it to a couple under. We had a nice finish there. Nice birdie on 15 and a chip-in on 16.

Kind of came at the end in a little bit of a flurry, but yeah, stayed patient and kind of knew I was playing good enough to make a few coming in, and yeah, it was nice to get a few there at the end.

Q. 7-under on 13 through 18, both days. You're making some hay there on those closing holes.

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, which I think there are a few chances through there, but there's also some trouble lurking there. Excited with how I played the first couple days, and hopefully I can keep going.

Q. Valspar and Houston, playing really well coming in here on good form, keeping it up now. What is it that's working so well in your game right now?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, I think -- I touched on this yesterday. I've started working with a new coach in Charlotte, Mark Wood, and my swing is starting to feel better each week, and I'm seeing that on the golf course. Shots are improving out there, and I feel like for me, if I can get around tee to green pretty consistently, then my putter can go to work.

Then obviously, too, I can't not credit John Sherman who I work with on my mental game. That's been a big help. We just kind of make sure that we're in the right head space going into each day, and that's been working so far.

Q. Just one back right now going into the weekend. Haven't had a lot of success at this tournament, but how much would it mean to play well this weekend, particularly here at RBC for you?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, playing well anywhere is great, but in an RBC event when I've been a partner of theirs for a number of years would be really great and special. Hopefully I can keep up the good form, and like you said, I haven't really contended here before, but I feel like I've been here enough to kind of know this golf course, and my game has kind of matured. I feel like I'm a different player than I was the last few years.

Q. How much are you looking forward to tomorrow night, Game 1 against the Bruins?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, I'm excited to see how the boys can stack up against the Bruins. We've got our hands full. Matthews has had an incredible year. I'm hoping that that stick stays hot. It's going to need to be a complete team effort top to bottom. We can beat those guys. I know it's going to be a tough, hard-fought series. It's probably going to go six, seven games. Hopefully the boys come out on top.